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334 results

  • Magistrates’ court sentencing guidelines

    The Sentencing Council is consulting on draft guidelines for a group of summary offences covered by the Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Guidelines (MCSG) and is seeking the views of people interested in criminal sentencing. Following consultation, when the revised guidelines are produced, they will apply to all offenders aged 18 and older, who are sentenced on or after the date it comes into force, regardless of the date of the offence. The current MCSG were last fully updated in 2008... More
    Opened 19 May 2016

  • Appeals to the Court of Appeal: proposed amendments to Civil Procedure Rules and Practice Direction

    This consultation seeks your views on proposals to amend the Civil Procedure Rules in respect of appeals to the Court of Appeal. The proposals are suggested as part of a package of reforms to alleviate pressure on the Court of Appeal. The proposals in this consultation amend the Civil Procedure Rules (which govern court procedure in England and Wales) - (1) to increase in the threshold for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal; (2) to remove the automatic right of oral... More
    Opened 19 May 2016

  • Legal services: removing barriers to competition

    On 30 November 2015 the government published, ‘A Better Deal: boosting competition to bring down bills for families and firms,’ which set out the government’s approach to encouraging open and competitive markets, for the benefit of the UK economy and UK consumers. As part of this, the government pledged that it would consult on removing barriers to entry for alternative business models in legal services. Alternative Business Structures (ABS) are firms which are partly or wholly... More
    Opened 7 July 2016

  • Reform of judicial review: request for further views on the provision of financial information to other parties

    The government is setting out how it intends financial information to be provided and used in connection with judicial reviews, and seeking further views on one aspect. Following the consultation, and discussions with senior stakeholders, the government has decided to invite further views on one aspect of the reforms, regarding the provision to other parties of financial information provided under section 85 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. The invitation to provide... More
    Opened 7 July 2016

  • Consultation on Fee-Paid Judicial Pension Scheme Draft Regulations

    This is a consultation on the draft regulations which are required to establish the Fee Paid Judicial Pension Scheme to comply with court and tribunal rulings in the case of O’Brien and related litigation. The purpose of the regulations once the draft is finalised and subject to the approval of Parliament is to provide eligible fee paid judicial office holders with pension benefits, both retrospective and going forward, which are comparable to those available for salaried judges (in so... More
    Opened 15 September 2016

  • Proposal on the future of Camberwell Green and Hammersmith Magistrates’ Courts

    This consultation sets out the proposal for the future of Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court and Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court, including the closure of the buildings and the work being absorbed by existing courts in London. The closures will also contribute to the consolidation of the London criminal court estate and, through disposal, provide funding for the ongoing process of reforming court and tribunal services in England & Wales. The consultation seeks the views of... More
    Opened 15 September 2016

  • Modernising judicial terms and conditions

    We've identified an error on page 7 of the consultation document following some queries about its scope. The current version says that the consultation is “relevant to judicial office holders deployed across courts and HMCTS tribunals in England and Wales”. This is partially incorrect. The proposed measures in the consultation would indeed apply to judicial office holders in courts in England and Wales whose terms and conditions are set by the Lord Chancellor. But they would also... More
    Opened 15 September 2016

  • Transforming our justice system: assisted digital strategy, online conviction and statutory fixed fines

    This consultation forms part of the ‘Transforming our justice system’ consultation, launched on 15 September. We are accepting responses on the assisted digital and online conviction and statutory fixed fine elements of the consultation until Thursday 10 November. You may also wish to respond to the panel composition element of the consultation , which is open until Thursday 24 November. Due to an administrative error, two of the documents related to this consultation (the Online... More
    Opened 15 September 2016

  • Transforming our justice system: panel composition in tribunals

    This consultation forms part of the ‘Transforming our justice system’ consultation, launched on 15 September. We are accepting responses on the panel composition element of the consultation until Thursday 24 November. You may also wish to respond to the assisted digital strategy and online conviction and statutory fixed fine elements of the consultation , which is open until Thursday 10 November. Due to an administrative error, two of the documents related to this consultation (the... More
    Opened 15 September 2016

  • Transforming our justice system: consultation

    This consultation has been superseded by two separate consultations: Transforming Our Justice System: Assisted Digital Strategy, Online Conviction and Statutory Fixed Fines (closed 10 November) Transforming Our Justice System: Panel Composition in Tribunals (closing date 24 November) This is due to administrative error where two documents (the Online Convictions/Statutory Fixed Fine Impact Assessment & Equalities Statement, and the Panel Composition Equalities Statement) were not... More
    Opened 15 September 2016

  • Bladed Articles & Offensive Weapons Consultation

    Overarching issues and the context of the guidelines This consultation seeks views on 3 guidelines; possession of a bladed article/ offensive weapon; threatening with a bladed article/ offensive weapon, and a youth guideline which covers all offences involving bladed articles and offensive weapons. The principal pieces of legislation for the main offences are the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988. In addition the adult guideline covers the offence of... More
    Opened 6 October 2016

  • Expedited immigration and asylum appeals for detained appellants

    The government is consulting on proposals for an expedited appeals process for detained immigration and asylum appellants. Any new process needs to balance speed and efficiency with accessibility and fairness. The key proposals in this consultation are: that there needs to be new dedicated rules for detained appellants within the principal rules to apply the expedited appeals process to all appellants detained in Immigration Removal... More
    Opened 12 October 2016

  • Breach Offences

    What is the Sentencing Council? The Sentencing Council is the independent body responsible for developing sentencing guidelines for the courts to use when passing a sentence. Why breach? Guidelines are not currently available for all types of breach of court order, and there is variation in the format of the guidelines which do exist and in their scope. There are a number of breach guidelines which were produced by the Council’s predecessor body, the Sentencing Guidelines... More
    Opened 25 October 2016

  • Tailored reviews of the Legal Services Board and the Office for Legal Complaints 2016: call for evidence

    As part of the UK government’s requirement to reform public bodies, all government departments must conduct a Tailored Review of their arm’s length bodies at least once in the lifetime of a parliament, every 5 years. As with all Tailored Reviews, the reviews of the Legal Services Board (LSB) and the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) will examine whether there is a continuing need for the function and form of each organisation. If it is agreed that either of the organisations be... More
    Opened 27 October 2016

  • Reforming the soft tissue injury (whiplash) claims process

    The government is bringing forward a package of measures to disincentivise minor, exaggerated and fraudulent road traffic accident related soft-tissue injury claims. The vast majority of these claims are known as whiplash claims. Despite previous government reforms, improvements in vehicle safety and a reduction in the number of reported accidents, the number of personal injury claims following a road traffic accident remains 50% higher than in 2006. This has led to higher car insurance... More
    Opened 17 November 2016

  • Driving offences and penalties relating to causing death or serious injury

    The government recognises that there is public concern about sentencing for offenders who kill or seriously injure others on the road and is committed to making sure that the legislative framework that the courts operate within reflects the seriousness of offending and the culpability of the offender. Most of the time, the vast majority of drivers drive well. However, sometimes even an error of judgment or loss of attention can have devastating consequences. As a general principle, the... More
    Opened 5 December 2016

  • Public consultation on new expectations for adult male prisons

    Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons) is an independent inspectorate with a statutory duty to report on the treatment of and conditions for prisoners. We conduct our inspections using a set independent criteria underpinned by international human rights standards, known as Expectations. We last updated our Expectations for adult male prisons in January 2012. This review set out to ensure that Expectations reflect the new prison reform agenda, evolving human rights standards... More
    Opened 3 January 2017

  • Reforming the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme

    This consultation paper sets out proposals for the reform of the funding scheme which pays advocates to defend clients in the Crown Court. The government is seeking views on all aspects of these proposals. In particular, the government would like to hear views specifically on: The graduated fee bundle Categorisation of offences and standard cases Early guilty pleas and cracked trials Special preparation Other aspects of the scheme design; and ... More
    Opened 5 January 2017

  • Corporate liability for economic crime: call for evidence

    The government is examining the case for reform of the law on corporate liability for economic crime by commencing an open call for evidence. The call for evidence is concerned with criminal offences designed to punish and prevent economic crimes such as fraud, false accounting and money laundering when committed on behalf or in the name of companies. It seeks evidence on the extent to which the identification doctrine is deficient as a tool for effective enforcement of the criminal... More
    Opened 13 January 2017

  • Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme Commissioning Sustainable Services

    This is a consultation on a competitive tendering approach for the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme which will consolidate the current number of schemes through joining courts allowing for larger and more sustainable contracts for providers. Providers will offer their services at a price, without an administrative cap or floor, that reflects the costs of delivery in their local area and represents a fair market price for the work carried out whilst maintaining a quality service. ... More
    Opened 20 January 2017

  • Review of the introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunals

    This consultation sets out the government’s review of Employment Tribunal (ET) fees and sets out proposals for reforming the Help with Fees scheme. The government’s review of ET fees shows that the introduction of fees has broadly met its objectives: users are contributing between £8.5 million and £9 million a year in fee income, in line with what we expected, transferring a proportion of the cost from the taxpayer to those who use the tribunal; more people are now... More
    Opened 31 January 2017

  • Litigators’ Graduated Fees Scheme and court appointees

    This consultation paper sets out proposals for the reform of the funding scheme which pays litigators to defend clients in the Crown Court and payments to court appointees. The government is seeking views on all aspects of these proposals. More
    Opened 10 February 2017

  • Legal aid financial eligibility and universal credit

    The changes to the benefits system currently being implemented under the Welfare Reform Act 2012 mean that a number of benefits that have historically been used as an administrative marker to “passport” applicants through parts of the criminal and civil legal aid means tests to free (ie, non-contributory) legal aid will progressively be replaced by Universal Credit. To accommodate the introduction of Universal Credit, which was initially restricted to particular areas and types of... More
    Opened 16 March 2017

  • The personal injury discount rate: how it should be set in future

    This consultation forms part of the review of the framework under which the personal injury discount rate is set. The paper considers possibilities for how, when and by whom the discount rate should be set, but does not make specific proposals. The core issues examined in the consultation paper are: What principles should guide how the rate is set? How often should the rate be set? Who should set the discount rate? The paper also considers whether... More
    Opened 30 March 2017

  • Intimidatory Offences and Domestic abuse guidelines consultation

    Which offences are covered by the consultation? Harassment (including the racially or religiously aggravated form of this offence) Stalking (including the racially or religiously aggravated form of this offence) Controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship Disclosing private sexual images Threats to kill The first section of the consultation contains revised guidance on the sentencing of offences committed within a... More
    Opened 30 March 2017

  • Child Cruelty Consultation

    What is the Sentencing Council? The Sentencing Council is the independent body responsible for developing sentencing guidelines for the courts to use when passing a sentence. Part of the Council’s remit (ss.118-136 Coroners and Justice Act 2009) is to conduct public consultations on guidelines for the sentencing of offenders. What is the consultation about? The Council is consulting on a Child Cruelty guideline that will include guidelines for three offenes: Cruelty... More
    Opened 13 June 2017

  • Manslaughter Guideline Consultation

    What is the Sentencing Council? The Sentencing Council is the independent body responsible for developing sentencing guidelines for the courts to use when passing a sentence. The Council’s remit extends to allow consultation on the sentencing of offenders following conviction. Why manslaughter? In May 2014 the Sentencing Council was asked by the then Lord Chancellor to develop a guideline for so called ‘one punch’ manslaughter following public concern about the sentences in... More
    Opened 4 July 2017

  • Terrorism Guideline Consultation

    What is the Sentencing Council? The Sentencing Council is the independent body responsible for developing sentencing guidelines for the courts to use when passing a sentence. The Council’s remit extends to allow consultation on the sentencing of offenders following conviction. Why terrorism? In 2016, in the absence of sentencing guidelines for terrorism offences, the Court of Appeal gave guidance for sentences imposed under section 5 Terrorism Act 2006 (preparation of terrorist... More
    Opened 12 October 2017

  • Tailored review of the Criminal Cases Review Commission: Call for evidence

    As part of the UK government’s requirement to reform public bodies, all government departments must conduct a Tailored Review of their arm’s length bodies at least once in the lifetime of a parliament, every 5 years. As with all Tailored Reviews, the review of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) will examine whether there is a continuing need for the function and form of the organisation. If it is agreed that the organisation should be retained, the review will assess the... More
    Opened 11 December 2017

  • Default County Court Judgments: A consultation on ensuring the process works fairly, for both creditors and debtors

    We are interested in your views as to the effectiveness and appropriateness of the current processes for money claims issued in the County Court. Of particular interest, will be views from respondents on limiting the circumstances in which an individual may have a judgment made in default against them without their knowledge. In the light of responses to this consultation, the Government will consider whether any changes are needed to the current arrangements and ask the Civil... More
    Opened 27 December 2017
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